Page 36 of River & Crown
"I don't know nothing other than what River shows."
"What you mean by that?"
"Y'all two are cut from the same cloth but stand at opposite ends of the spectrum."
"Nigga!" I grunted, voice rough with irritation. "Speak to me to me like I'ma eight year old in the first grade."
"Y'all both got secrets. You're hiding yours out of fear, and she hides hers because she can't let go."
"How you figure that?"
"The way she played you when y'all first met. She was willing to keep shit open but still wanted to claim you. Most women aren't with that type of bullshit unless they're struggling with letting something go."
Mulling over Honor's opinion on my situation, I thought about hitting Chosyn up to see if she could tell me something. I didn't see a future for me that didn't involve Four. In every bad and good scenario, she was right there.
"When she's ready, she's gon' fuck with you. In the meantime, keep fighting to win her over."
I nodded my head, agreeing, all the while thinking about how I was fighting an opponent I couldn't see, and still, my dumbass was willing to shoot blindly in the dark.
Chapter 8
Choyce Mancinelli
Catching glimpses of Talon from the corner of my eye, I cursed myself for not leaving the house faster. Today was the first meeting I was holding as Lucian's right hand in his organization. A position once held by my late father, may his grimy ass burn in hell. I was feeling anxious, and when I got anxious... the toilet became my best friend. The extra time I spent on the toilet, then having to re-shower, gave Talon the opportunity to get himself ready and follow me out the door. Kage almost snapped my husband's wrist when he saw Talon reaching to open the door to his truck. For a split second, my lapse in judgment almost got the best of me. Kage killing my husband was the best thing for me, but it would have devastated my daughter. I couldn't have that. Cherish was the one person in my life I would never use or scheme on to get ahead in life. She's the bright spot in my dim life. For her, I'd make a sea of enemies because she deserved the life I never got to live in. The first step was allowing Talon's annoying ass to walk around with the chip on his shoulder that he now blamed me for.
I never denied my role in his demise, but Talon was headed down a path of turmoil long before I out-maneuvered him and made him look small in front of his father. Lucian did all hecould to mold Talon into an image he approved of. Killing his male lovers and forcing him to marry and procreate with me should have been enough to force Talon's balls to drop, but they never did. Talon remained the soft-spoken, scared to bust a grape in a fruit fight ass nigga he's always been. Meanwhile, I learned from his mistake and became the nigga he was supposed to be. I wasn't proud of the actions taken to get here, but I wouldn't change them either. I did what was necessary to show my worth and ensure my daughter was never used as a pawn the way Chosyn and I were.
At the thought of my sister, I took my phone from my purse and sent her a text.
Me:
I would love for you to meet your niece. I know things are rocky, but I want to make peace. I love you, Chosyn.
After sending the text, my eyes burned with emotion that never seemed to fall from my eyes. My days of crying over spilled milk were behind me. I refused to beg Chosyn for her time, but I did reach out once a month to put the invitation out there. She was mad and was well within her right, but I was standing ten toes down behind all that I did to get here.
"We're five minutes out. You want me to stay in the car?" Kage asked, catching my eyes from the rearview.
"Yes, you can stay in the car. I'll be going in withmywife. She doesn't need you," Talon spoke up, shocking the hell out of me. I kept my face neutral to mask my surprise by his sudden vibrato.
Kage did the opposite. Laughing darkly, he caught eyes with Talon. The two engaged in a stare-off until my soft-ass husband looked away.
"How you gon' keepyourwife safe when you can barely look a real nigga in the eye? They already respect her more than you. You're a joke to them, and because of that, they won't have a problem killing you forattemptingto protect Choyce."
"And my father will?—"
"See how you bring up your father? I'm not the nigga who gotta bring up another muthafucka to protect someone I care for. Choyce knows her life is safe when with me and me only."
Seeing Talon's lip quiver, I cleared my throat, capturing both their attention.
"You both will come in with me. Kage, I don't have to say much. You know what to do. Talon, you're there just to show face. You represent Lucian. I'm the mouthpiece and the one with theumph,so I'll do the talking."
"Choyce, this is not what Lucian discussed with us."
Holding my finger up as the car came to a stop, I smacked my lips, then turned to face him.
"Kage, give us a minute, please."
He turned the truck off and then hopped out, slamming the door behind him.
